Week 17
Current Week: 6-0 (61-44 .581 / +1)
Next Week: 2 vs Georgetown Sixteens, 2 vs Dover Generals, 3 @ Annapolis Admirals
Power Ranking: 1 (+5 / 117.6)
Fan Interest: 100
Owners Mood: Happy (+)
Runs Scored: 511 (5th)
Avg: .274 (2nd)
HR: 132 (3rd)
SB: 86 (1st)
Runs Against: 391 (1st)
Starters ERA: 3.42 (1st)
Pen ERA: 3.47 (1st)
Def Eff: .694 (6th)
Game 100: Norfolk 5, Ellicott City 3
Cornell Pearson (9-6): 8.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, BB, 9 K
Luis Martinez (SV 20): 1.0 IP, H, BB, 2 K
Edgar Baez: 2-3, 2B, R
Robinson Lopez: 1-3, 3B, R, RBI
Leonard Lawson: 1-1, HR (10), R, 3 RBI (PH-9th)
H: 7, LOB: 5
Game 101: Norfolk 6, Ellicott City 3 (11 Innings)
Carlos Coronado: 8.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 5 K
Luis Martinez (3-6): 2.0 IP, H, 3 K
Miguel A Gonzalez (SV 1): 1.0 IP, K
Jeff Lewis: 4-6, 2 2B, R
Bob Short: 3-6, HR (25), R, RBI
Henry Hamer: 3-6, HR (26), 2 R, 2 RBI
Carlos Franco: 2-3, RBI
H: 14, LOB: 10
Game 102: Norfolk 7, Ellicott City 1
Paul Brown (12-5): 9.0 IP, 2 H, R, 9 K
Bob Short: 2-5, HR (26), 2 R, 2 RBI
Sergio Galvez: 2-4, HR (22), 3 R, RBI
Jeff Lewis: 1-5, HR (4), R, 3 RBI
Alejandro Diaz: 2-4, 2B, RBI
Francisco Gallegos: 1-4, 3B, R
H: 10, LOB: 6
Game 103: Norfolk 4, Salisbury 1
Miguel Contreras (14-2): 7.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 7 K
Luis Martinez (SV 21): 1.0 IP, H, K
Sergio Galvez: 3-5, HR (23), R, 2 RBI
Robinson Lopez: 2-4, R, RBI
Leonard Lawson: 0-1, R, 3 BB
H: 6, LOB: 7
Game 104: Norfolk 8, Salisbury 4
Pablo Garcia (12-5): 6.0 IP, 5 H, R, 2 BB, 4 K
Sergio Galvez: 3-5, HR (24), 2 R, RBI
Francisco Gallegos: 2-5, 2B, R, RBI
Alejandro Diaz: 1-4, HR (17), R, 4 RBI
Bob Short: 1-2, 2 R
H: 10, LOB: 4
Game 105: Norfolk 6, Salisbury 0
Cornell Pearson (10-6): 8.1 IP, 5 H, BB, 6 K
Mario Gomez: 3-4, HR (10), R, 2 RBI
Henry Hamer: 2-4, 2 HR (28), 2 R, 3 RBI
Jeff Lewis: 2-4
H: 11, LOB: 7
Injuries:
MR Eric Helton, 1 day, sore shoulder
Luis M Gonzalez will be sent down to AAA when Helton returns, and this is probably the last year for Hetlon to be wearing the Cav's Orange. He has been really disappointing in my mind and I think we are better off with what we have in the pipeline... Don't tell him that though, I need him focused for the final 2 months of the year.
Draft Picks:
CF Dennis Williamson (Round 1, Pick 2, 2nd overall pick).
San Jose (A): 19-82 (.232), HR, 7 R, 5 RBI, 34 K
CF Flint Brooks (Round 2, Pick 7, 34th overall pick).
San Jose (A): 42-261 (.257), 2 HR, 21 R, 19 RBI, 42 K
SP Bill Bryan (Round 5, Pick 20, 107th overall pick).
Jacksonville (S-A): 2-1 2.63, 4 GS 24.0 IP, 21 H, 12 BB, 18 K
Other/Roster News:
n/a
GM Notes:
Look at that a perfect week for the Cav's. We are on a hot-streak and I am enjoying every minute of it. I just hope it continues. I know we are going to have our hands full with the Senators. We just have to beat the guys we need to beat... and I think we will be alright. Looks like the big-3 are heating back up.
Pablo Garcia looks to be liking it here in Norfolk, in 3 games he is 2-0 1.50 with 17 K's in 18 IP, posting a 0.89 WHIP. You can't beat that. He is what this team needed, a little shot in the arm to get things going... Along with Bob Short, who is 17-57 (.298) with 4 HR's, 8 RBI's and 10 R's in his 14 games. They seemed to have brought new life to the Cavaliers. Hopefully, this hot-streak is something that these 2 "clubhouse leaders" can keep up.
I have decided to stop my pursuit of Garcia, primarily because of the cost, and go with what I have for next season. The biggest question mark is that #5 starter. I have Lopez and Miguel Angel and I have 2 kids in the minors. The biggest question mark is Joaquin Hernandez, who Shelton believes is ready for the show (Stuff: 14/17, Movement: 14/14, Control: 12/14), but if I look at the OSA ratings (Stuff: 9/16, Movement: 14/16, Control: 9/12) he isn't... He is 12-3 3.24 in AAA, and only 20 years old... but if he is ready...
I have not enjoyed watching the downfall of Augusto Rodriguez. I actually thought he was going to be a Glove Wizard winner for years to come when I signed him to a long term deal. He will retire with 4, which isn't bad, but I had him winning at least 8 in my head. He has struggled since return to the starting lineup. His struggle is still .260, just not the .340 he was hitting as a reserve. Next year is his last year on the team, unless he reaches 300 PA's. Injuries have just eaten him up, and I will miss him. With the trade of Brock, the retirement of Whitaker, the downfall of Candelaria and Rodriguez, the last of the "original" Cavaliers is fading away. I guess when you are around a team for over 10 seasons, these things happen. I just always thought we would have more time... Candelaria is going to be a free-agent at the end of the season and he is toiling away on our AAA club now. I may bring him up just to get him some final games. I think his career is winding down, and at 38 he will probably be retiring soon.
When things are going good there isn't as much to say. When you are hot and you are complaining it just doesn't have the same connotation as if you are slumping. Maybe its because when you are hot there just isn't anything to complain about... I do know we have a big week ahead, the Generals are the only team with a winning record we are facing, so we should be able to win a lot of games.
The biggest problem on this team right now is the #5 starter. I have Carlos Coronado holding it down now, and I think I am just going to leave him there. My 2 starters in the bullpen, Lopez and Gonzalez, and my best relievers right now. I would be afraid putting them in the rotation would only hurt my bullpen. I will have to keep an eye on Carlos and if push comes to shave maybe dump him out of the rotation in September.
Standings Leaders
DE Southern: Milton Brewers: 57-48 (+2)
DE Northern: Wilmington Iron Pigs: 64-41 (+9)
MV Eastern: VBeach Surf Dawgs: 64-41 (+3)
MV Western: Norfolk Cavaliers: 61-44 (+1)
Players of the Week:
Delaware: Antonio Castaneda, Wilmington Iron Pigs, 8-17, 4 HR's, 6 RBI's
MarVa: Ramon Valdes, Ellicott City Express, 7-20, 4 HR's, 8 RBI's, 6 R's
Power Rankings:
1) Norfolk Cavaliers (117.6)
2) Wilmington Iron Pigs (114.7)
3) Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs (110.7)
4) Chesapeake Blue Crabs (102.6)
5) Washington Senators (101.9)
News:
Christiana Blue Hens: Bernard Schnieder had his hit streak stopped at 21 games. On the season, the 25 yr-old, shortstop is hitting .306-7-46.
Baltimore Barons: Owner Arthur Briggs passed away suddenly. His son Jerry will be taking over ownership of the Barons. He is a very tolerant and charitable owner.
Trades:
In the last trade before the deadline, the Dover Generals shipped off SS Jose Rivera (.268/.332/.407, 9 HR) and $3M in chase to the Newark Millers for MR Pat Riddle (AA) and LF Luis Martinez (S-A, #149).